LOVED DEEPLY: Karrisa McDonald with her sister Stephanie Bawden in a photo posted on Facebook. Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

WITH big blue eyes and light blonde hair, Karrisa McDonald was a much-loved member of her Bundaberg family and was celebrating the end of the school year when tragedy struck.

The nine-year-old was sharing a pizza with friends at Bundaberg East State School's break-up party at Anzac Pool in Quay St on Thursday when she was injured in a freak accident.

As teachers, friends and more than 300 swimmers looked on, a gust of wind picked up a large pool umbrella and the bottom, weighted section struck Karrisa on the head, inflicting a severe brain injury.

Karrisa was taken to Bundaberg Base Hospital and later airlifted to Brisbane where she died on Friday after her life support was switched off. Her parents, Mick and Jodie McDonald, had kept a vigil by their daughter's bedside since the tragedy and had the chance to say their final goodbyes yesterday.

Karrisa, who had just finished Year 4, was a younger sister of Tamara Andrews and Stephanie Bawden and her family paid tribute to her.

They flooded social media with outpourings of grief as they remembered their "little monkey".

"She's my angel who walked beside me I love you my little monkey ... I love you to the moon and back," Mr McDonald wrote on Facebook.

Ms Bawden wrote: "She's watching over us all! Such a beautiful little girl taken way too soon."

Education Queensland's regional director for the North Coast, Greg Peach, said Workplace Health and Safety would be investigating the "freak accident".

"This is an absolute tragedy and the school's thoughts and prayers are with the family at this terrible time."

He said counselling would be offered to students and staff.

Pool manager Ian Thomson said it was an "unfortunate incident that was a terrible tragedy".

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